TEXAS INDICTMENT ENDS MILLER'S IRISH CAREER

Joseph Tybor, Tribune Staff WriterCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Michael Miller, who at one time was considered heir to the big playmaking legacy of Raghib "Rocket" Ismail at Notre Dame, surrendered to Texas authorities Wednesday after being named in an indictment charging him with organized criminal activity.

Miller was charged with two other Texas men in connection with an alleged scheme that forged stolen checks to purchase about $50,000 in retail merchandise and airline tickets, said Det. Rodney Glendening of the Ft. Bend County Sheriff's Department.

During the investigation, two other Notre Dame football players admitted buying airline tickets from Miller at discount prices over the last 1 1/2 years, Glendening said.

Glendening said that the other players had no knowledge of the alleged criminal ring and would not be charged. He also refused to identify the players.

It also was learned Wednesday that Miller was indicted and sentenced to six months probation and ordered to pay a $200 fine in 1993 on a misdemeanor charge of assault and bodily injury. That case involved a female student in a dormitory at the University of Houston, according to Harris County, Texas, court records.

It was unknown whether Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz and university officials knew of the 1993 indictment or that Miller was the subject of a criminal investigation while he was playing regularly on the football team.

Holtz, reached by telephone at his home, said, "I have absolutely nothing to say. It is a university matter."

Holtz announced Tuesday that Miller, a speedy receiver who started the first six of Notre Dame's eight games this season, was no longer enrolled at the university. Holtz was prohibited by official university policy from commenting further.

Glendening said that a sealed indictment naming Miller was returned in Texas Oct. 25, but that he did not notify the Notre Dame security office until Nov. 4 because he wanted to arrest the other two men first. Miller's last game was Oct. 29 against Navy.

The two men indicted with Miller were former schoolmates at Willow Ridge High School in Sugarland, Texas, Glendening said.

Glendening said his investigation began over the July 4 weekend after checks were reported stolen and it was discovered that Miller had traveled using an airline ticket purchased by one of the stolen checks.

Glendening said he telephoned Holtz Aug. 19 and asked the coach to have Miller contact the detective. Glendening said he told Holtz at the time that Miller had used an airline ticket purchased with a stolen check, and that Miller was a witness, not the subject, of the investigation.

Glendening said Miller contacted him later that day.

Glendening said he also contacted Lt. William Hedl, of Notre Dame security, on Aug. 31 and asked him to assist him in the investigation. Hedl interviewed the two Notre Dame football players who admitted their purchase of airline tickets, Glendening said.

Glendening said he believed that Hedl followed law enforcement protocol in keeping the investigation confidential.

Hedl also declined to comment.

Miller was involved in another incident last spring, which was widely known. Authorities had found a VCR, which had been reported stolen, in an off-campus apartment that had the utilities registered in Miller's name.

County prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to press charges and Holtz reinstated Miller to the team. Reportedly, Miller was required to perform some community service.

Miller was a 5-foot-7-inch, 160-pound speedster who never quite lived up to his big-play potential. In recent weeks before his departure, he was missing from several practices and was demoted from his starting job for the Brigham Young and Navy games.